LIBERAL Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is bracing himself for tomorrow’s party conference amid a backlash over his performance from activists, peers and MPs.

Lord Oakeshoitt suggests the Lib Dems would be better off without Nick Clegg (DAVID LEVINE/EYEVINE)

Lord Oakeshott, a long time disgruntled party grandee has suggested the party could even ditch him before the general election in 2015.

And writing for Express Online today, MP John Hemming said his party had a "good message" to tell at the next election, but suggested this was despite Mr Clegg, not because of him.

He said Coalition success on the economy would be more of a driving factor.

He insisted the Lib Dems had been a restraining influence on the Tories whom he had shown their true colours by calling for a “Margaret Thatcher Day”.

Mr Hemming pointed to Labour’s relatively high poll ratings under unpopular Ed Miliband as proof that “parties are more important than political leaders”.

We have to accept that Nick's ratings are very poor and have been for a long time

Lord Oakeshott

But in an earlier intervention, Lord Oakeshott warned the next election could be “disastrous” for the party unless it severs ties with the Conservatives months before going to the polls.

With the party conference due to start in Glasgow tomorrow, he said Mr Clegg's personal poll ratings were "very poor" and members would have to think about whether it would do better under another leader.

Lord Oakeshott, an ally of Business Secretary Vince Cable, told The House magazine: "We need to face facts, there's quite a lot of complacency going on and self-delusion going on.

“We are likely to lose seats. We have to accept that Nick's ratings are very poor and have been for a long time.

Nick Clegg is expected to come under fire at the Lib Dem conference in Glasgow this week (PA)

"You've got to be frank that his ratings are down at levels which if you go back were only seen by Mrs Thatcher shortly before she left and Michael Foot. It's nothing personal, you've got to look at the facts.

"You do have to say well 'where are our prospects at the next election if we don't have a major and clear change and detachment from the Conservatives?' and we've got to think about the best way to get that message over."

He added: "It's disastrous if we are seen as a tin can tied to the Tories' tail in 2015. We have to move on to developing our own very clear and distinctive Liberal Democrat message for next time.

"It will be very difficult to do that if we are still in Government at the next election. I believe we should disengage well before the next election, sixth months to a year before."

But former leader Lord Ashdown dismissed his fellow peer as an “attention-seeker”.